Longshots no match for Resilience in Wood Memorial

Apr 06, 2024 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Resilience was a dominant winner of the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct on Saturday, securing a berth in next month's Kentucky Derby (G1) while leading home several pari-mutuel outsiders who garnered minor placings in the 1 1/8-mile fixture.

The Bill Mott-trained colt also continued to flatter the form of the Feb. 17 Risen Star (G2), a race in which he finished fourth. One slot ahead of him in that Fair Grounds test was Catching Freedom, subsequent winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2), while Risen Star winner Sierra Leone captured the Blue Grass (G1) on Saturday.

The 9-2 third choice in a field of 12 in the Wood, Resilience enjoyed a dream trip. Sporting blinkers for the first time, Resilience broke sharply from post 1 and tracked in third behind extreme longshots Evening News and Lonesome Boy. Bidding for the lead approaching the quarter pole, Resilience surged past his overmatched rivals and maintained a steady, comfortable lead to the wire.

Owned by Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman, Resilience covered one lap of Aqueduct's fast track in 1:50.28 and paid $11.

Society Man, the second longest shot on the board at 106-1, rallied for second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of 38-1 chance Protective. Lonesome Boy, sent off at 80-1, held fourth. Uncle Heavy finished fifth and was followed by Elysian Meadows, Tuscan Sky, 9-10 favorite Deterministic, Evening News, Merit, and Gettysburg Address.

Deposition, the longest shot on the board, fell in upper stretch. He was vanned off for further evaluation.

This was the fifth Wood Memorial win for jockey John Velazquez, but his first for a trainer other than Todd Pletcher. Mott's lone previous Wood winner was Tacitus in 2019.

Resilience earned 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, increasing his total to 110. Society Man secured 50 points, Protective 25 points, Lonesome Boy 15 points, and Uncle Heavy increased his total from 10 to 20.

Resilience placed in two of three starts as a juvenile, finally breaking through with a maiden victory on New Year's Day going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park. That was his only start of the season prior to the aforementioned Risen Star, in which he was beaten only 3 1/2 lengths by Sierra Leone.

Resilience was bred in Kentucky by Marty and Pam Wygod. He's a son of Into Mischief and out of Meadowsweet, a Smart Strike half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Tranquility Lake. The latter produced Grade 1 winners Courageous Cat and After Market.